Most West Sussex residents back Gatwick expansion, says new poll

Most West Sussex residents back Gatwick expansion, according to a new YouGov poll.

Fifty-three per cent supported expanding the airport in the online survey of 1,000 adults across the county.

A fifth said they weren’t sure and 27 per cent chose Heathrow instead in the Gatwick-commisionned poll.

More than six in ten associated job creation with a bigger Gatwick and 63 per cent said it was important to the local economy.

Half linked the expansion with local road congestion, 48 per cent aircraft noise and 43 per cent pressure on local housing and infrastructure and disruption by construction of a runway.

Fifty-seven per cent thought the expansion’s benefits would outweigh the disadvantages for them and their family - 27 per cent disagreed.

Stewart Wingate, Gatwick’s CEO welcomed the results and said: “We will keep listening to all of our local communities as we are determined to be the best neighbour possible.

“If we get the green light to expand, we will work closely with local councils, businesses and neighbourhood groups to ensure that the benefits are shared widely. A second runway will provide a significant boost to the local economy and provide thousands of new jobs for generations to come.”

A Gatwick spokesman said the results were largely the same as an identical poll last year. Fifty-two percent backed Gatwick, 31 per cent Heathrow and 17 per cent were not sure in 2015.

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